Mounting means



Oct. 20, 1936. H. A. DOUGLAS 2,057,885

- MOUNTING MEANS Filed Oct. 8 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet-l r-a iL Hairs .A.- Douglas lv vJEJuToK Oct. 20, 1936. H. A. DOUGLAS I 7, v

" MOUNTING MEANS Filed Oct. 8, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 In VLNTOK AT "roan 19 1 Patented Oct. 20, 1936 UNETED STATES FATENT OFFIE MOUNTING MEANS Harry A. Douglas, Bronson, Mich. Application October 8, 1934, Serial No. 747,481

6 Claims.

This invention relates to mounting means, and the principal object of the invention is the provision of .a new and improved mounting means. One use to which the mounting means may be put is for mounting devices upon a panel, and more particularly upon a panel such as used in automotive vehicles.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mounting means whereby a device may be mounted upon a panel by means which is quickly connectable and quickly disconnectable. A more specific object is to provide a mounting means which in spite of its quick connectability and disconnectability will rigidly secure the device when in mounted position.

A further object of the invention is to provide a mounting means which, for example, when used in connection with electric switches, will be adapted to suitably mount either switches having actuators of the rotary type or of the push-pull type.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mounting means which, after the connection between the parts has been completed, will be locked against unintentional disconnection. A more specific object in this regard is to provide a locking means which may be easily intentionally unlocked, and more specifically may be unlocked manually without the use of tools.

Other objects will appear hereinafter as the description of the invention proceeds.

The novel features of the invention will appear from this specification and the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof and showing several embodiments of the invention, and all these novel features are intended to be pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of one embodiment of the invention as it may be used in connection with an electric switch, the panel upon which the switch is mounted being shown fragmentarily and in section.

Figure 2 is a View of the device shown in Figure 1, with parts of the mounting means proper shown in vertical section, the switch base containing a switch, and the actuating means for the switch, being shown in side elevation.

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional View taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows, the switch base and the actuating means for the switch being shown in elevation.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary bottom view of the device shown in Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary plan view of the device shown in Figure 1.

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken along the 5' line 1-7 of Figure 4, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 8 shows a modified embodiment of the invention as it may be used in connection with a device having a push-pul1 type of actuator. 10

Figure 9 is a sectional view taken along the line 99 of Figure 8, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring to Figure 1 of the drawings, there is here shown a switch, indicated generally by the 15 reference numeral I 0, mounted on a panel H. In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figure 1 the panel is provided with a generally cup-shaped element I2 having an axial opening I3 adapted to register with an opening I4 in the panel H. The cup-shaped element l2 may be fixedly mounted on the panel H in any suitable manner, as by a bushing l5 fitting through the openings I3, l4, and having its ends crimped or beaded over the edges of these openings. 2

The switch ill in this instance is provided with an outside cup-shaped casing or housing It adapted to be inserted into the cup-shaped element I 2. The housing 16 may be fastened in any suitable manner to an insulating base H. In 30 this instance the housing i6 is provided with a plurality of tongues H fitting peripheral recesses in the base I 1, the tongues ll being clinched over the end of the base. The base I! may carry a plurality of conductor terminals l8 electrically 35 connected to the switching mechanism (not shown) within the base ll. The base I l is pro vided with a tubular extension l9, desirably metallic, through which a switch operating shaft l2 passes (see Figure 4). The switch operating 40 shaft is provided with an actuator, here shown as comprising a boss 29, in turn provided with a handle 2! extending laterally from the boss 20.

The boss 20 is enlarged at its base so that the enlargement closes the opening in the bushing 45 I5, with suflicient clearance between the enlargement and the opening in the bushing to permit free rotation of the boss.

Means is provided for limiting movement toward the panel of the device which is to be mounted thereon. In the illustrated embodiment, movement of the switch toward the panel is limited by engagement of an end wall 39 of the housing IS with abutments 22, 23, 24, and 25 provided on the cup-shaped element I 2. These abutments may be formed by striking inwardly portions of the element [2, as may be clearly seen in Figures 1 and 4. In Figure 7 the end of the housing It is shown in abutment with the struck-in portion 22, the other struck-in portions being invisible.

The quick connectable and disconnectable connection between the panel and the device to be mounted thereon includes a bayonet type connection one part of which is carried by the panel and the other by the device. The cup-shaped member I2 is provided, in the embodiments of the invention herein illustrated, with a single bayonet slot having an axially extending portion 26 connected with a circumferentially extending portion 21, best seen in Figure 5. The circumferentially extending portion 21 of the slot is provided with a baynet seat 28, which in this instance is inclined with respect to a. plane at right angles to the axis of the cup-shaped element 42. On the side of the seat 28 nearest the axially extending portion 26, the seat 28 is provided with a shoulder 29 extending substantially at right angles to the seat 28. The side I3 oi the shoulder 29 toward the portion 26 of the bayonet slot may be beveled off somewhat to serve better as a cam surface for reasons which will appear.

The bayonet connection between the parts also includes, in this instance, a struck-in portion 39 which can best be seen in plan in Figure 6. The struck-in portion 39 extends radially inwardly on the element l2 and serves to provide a bayonet seat 3|, which may also be inclined to a plane perpendicular to the axis of the element l2. The struck-in portion 30 is also provided with a shoulder 32, which in this instance is desirably of rounded form on both sides and merges into the seat 34 to form a curve of generally ogee form.

That portion of the-bayonet connection which is carried by the switch 19 comprises in this instance two bayonet projections 33, 34, which are mounted in a suitable manner on the switch, In this instance the bayonet projections 33, 34 form oppositely extending parts of a cross-shaped member 35 made of sheet spring metal. The cross-shaped member 35 is provided with a central opening 36 through which the tubular extension IB is disposed, and the member 35 is in this case fastened to the end wall 39 of the switch housing by means of rivets 31, 38 located at diametrically opposite points intermediate the bayonet projections 33, 34. The cross-shaped member 35 is spaced from the wall 39 by bosses 48, 4|, through openings in which the rivets 31, 38 pass.

The arms of the cross-shaped member 35, through which the rivets 31, 38 pass, extend radially outwardly a short distance beyond the rivets 37, 38 substantially to the inner periphery of the cup-shaped element l2 to form projections 42, 43. The projections 42, 43am adapted to cooperate with struck-in portions 44, 45 on the cup-shaped element l2. The struck-in portion 45 may be seen in plan in Figure 1, and from this view it will be apparent, in view of the fact that the opening left by the struck-in portion 45 has a rounded corner 46, that the corner of the struck-in portion 45 will also be rounded. The relation of the parts is such that when the switch housing is in abutment with the struck-in portions 22, 23, 24, and 25, the projections 42, 43 are adapted to firmly ride onto the seats formed by the struck-in portions 44, 45, as may be clearly seen in Figure 3.

' The seats of the struck-in portions 44, 45 are substantially in a plane at right angles to the axis of the element l2, as are also the portions of the projections 42, 43, which engage with those seats respectively. However, in the instance shown, the bayonet projections 33, 34 are provided with off-set portions 41, 48 respectively. In the case of the projection 33 the off-set portion 41 is so twisted outoi the'general plane of the cross-shaped member 35 that the portion 41 will lie substantially flat upon the bayonet seat 28 when engagement between the parts is completed. In like manner the bayonet projection 34 has the portion 48 so ofi-set that it will lie substantially flat upon the inclined seat 31 when engagement between the parts has been completed. I

The ofi-set portion 41 is adapted to extend radially outwardly through the slot portion 21 and may, if desired, be provided with a circumferentially enlarged portion 49. On the other hand, the off-set portion 48 extends radially outwardly only to the inner periphery of the cupshaped member l2.

The end wall 39 of the housing l3 may be provided with radially extending ribs or corrugations 5i], 5! extending from the outer periphery of the housing radially inwardly to the opening in the housing through which the tubular extension [9 passes. One of the corrugations 50 may be seen in section in Figure 7 The operation of the mounting means is as follows. Let it be assumed that the switch l8 has not been mounted upon the panel II as shown in Figure 1, but that such mounting is to be accomplished. In that case the switch It! along with its actuater 20, 2|, is moved bodily, as a unitary device, toward the cup-shaped element l2, the device being somewhat tilted so that the handle 2|. may be first inserted through the opening in the bushing l5, and then the device brought in generally coaxial alignment with the element l2. The unitary device is then positioned about its axis so that the bayonet projection 33 may enter the axial portion 26 of the bayonet slot. When the parts are in this position the cross-shaped element 35 will be tilted in a clockwise direction with respect to its position shown tions 42, 43 are ready to ride onto the seats formed by the struck-in portions 44, 45. With the parts in this position relative rotation of the unitary device with respect to the element l2 will cause the beveled portion '73 of the shoulder 29 to cam the off-set portion 4'! in a direction away from the end wall 39 of the switch housing, thereby putting the projection 33 under stress. At the same time the off-set portion 48 is cammed in a direction away from the end wall 39 by the shoulder 32, thereby putting the projection 34 under stress. By thus putting the projections 33, 34 under stress, the switch housing and the abutments 22, 23, 24, and 25 are firmly forced into engagement and resiliently held in engagement. By reason of the fact that the means for thus resiliently holding the parts in engagement is symmetrical about the axis of the parts, the resultant stress,the projections 42, 43 will rideonto the seats formed by the struck-in portions 44, 45. They may be aided in riding onto those seats by the rounded corners on the portions 44, 45. It will be apparent however that the samepurpose may be accomplished by other means, as by beveling off the edges of the projections 42, 43.

When the relative rotating movement of theparts has been completed, that is when the leading edge of the off-set portion 47 strikes the end on the slot 27, the ofi-set portion 47 has snapped 01f of the shoulder 29 and lies substantially flat against the bayonet seat 28. 'At the same time the oiT-set portion 48 has ridden down the curved portion of the shoulder 32 leading to the seat 3! and lies substantially flat on that seat. It will be noted that in the case of the oif-set portion 48, the trailing edge follows the curved shoulder 32 gradually onto the seat 3| and the offset portion 48 is not snapped onto its seat, as is the case with the off-set portion 41.

3 The connecting motion between the parts having been completed, the parts are in the position shown in Figures 1 through '7. Operation of the switch by the handle 2| tends to turn theswitch as a whole, including its base I? and housing [5. That is particularly true when the switch actuator reaches one of its limiting positions. However, rotative movement of the actuator 2| cannot eifect rotative movement of the switch as a whole for the reason that the housing I6, and therefore the entire unitary device, is locked not only from turning in a counter clock-wise direction, as viewed in Figure 4, by engagement of the offset portion 41 with the end of the slot 27, but also in a clock-wise direction, as viewed in Figure 4, by reason of the engagement of the off-set portion 41 with the shoulder 29 (see Figure If it is desired to intentionally disconnect the unitary device from the panel, the olf-set portion 41 may be disengaged manually from the shoulder 29 by pressing upon the enlargement 49 and then turning the unitary device until the oiT-set portion 41 is in axial alignment with the slot portion 26. During that turning motion the off-set portion 48 rides from the seat 3| up onto the shoulder 32 by cam action, and, as the motion continues, is entirely disengaged from the shoulder 32. Meanwhile the projections 42, 43 are disengaged from the struck-in portions 44, 45 and all of the parts are in such position that the unitary device may be separated from the cup-shaped element I2 by axial movement.

Since only one of the bayonet projections, that is, the projection 33, needs to be unlocked when it is desired to disconnect the unitary device from the panel, the other projection 34 being automatically disengaged by rotative movement of the device, it will be evident that disconnection of the parts can be readily effected manually without the use of tools. It also will be clear that the bayonet seat 34 with its shoulder 32 could be formed by slotting rather than striking in the part in which it is formed, without sacrificing automatic disengageability of the bayonet projection cooperating with that seat, and therefore without sacrificing 1realdy manual disconnection of the parts without oo s.

Referring now to Figure 8, this shows an embodiment of the invention in which a push-pull type of switch is mounted upon a panel. The switch is designated in general by the reference numeral 52, and is carried by a bracket 53 having a bifurcated oif-set 54 extending at right angles therefrom. The bifurcated portions of the 01fset 54, only one of which is visible in Figure 8, span a central opening in an annular plate 55 and the bifurcated portions are fastened, in any suitable manner to the annular plate 55, as by rivets 56.

The switch 52 is provided with a desired number of suitable terminals 51 leading-to switch mechanism (not shown). The switchis provided with operating means including a reciprocable bar 58,-extending into a casing 59 surrounding the switch. The operating bar is provided with an olf-set portion 68 extending at right angles therefrom, with which oif-set portion an actuating rod 6! is operatively related, as by threaded engagement, a lock nut 62 being provided to secure the parts. The actuating rod 6| carries an actuating knob 63 of desired form. The actuating rod 5| is provided with means for better guiding the same comprising a dished member 54 provided with legs 65, 56, 6?, and 68 adapted to be mounted on the annular plate 55. The legs of the dished member 64' may be provided with tongues p'assingthrough openings in the annular plate 55; as for example the tongues 53 and 10, which are shown clinched to hold the member 64 in position. The dished member 64 also serves as a closure for the bushing l5.

Analogously to the construction illustrated in Figures '1 through 7, the embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 8 and 9 includes the cross-shaped member'35, which in this case, however, is fastened to and spaced from the annular plate 55. The construction of the member 35, and of the'cup-sha-ped element 12 into which in this instance the annular member 55 fits, are the same as'in Figures 1 through '7 and similar parts have been given the same reference numerals as in the latter figures.

The operation of the device, as far as the connection and disconnection of the mounting means is concerned, is the same'in the construction shown in Figures 8 and 9 as already described in connection with Figures 1 through 7. However, the'switch 52 is operated by either pulling the knob 53out away from the panel H or pushing it inwardly toward the panel. Considerable push or pull is necessary to operate the switch, but the mounting means rigidly holds the switch in fixed relation to the panel. The abutments 22, 23, 24, and 25 positively prevent any motion of the annular plate 55 in an axial direction toward the panel, and the projections 42, 43 engaging the struck-in portions 44, 45 positively prevent axial movement of the plate 55, and therefore of the switch 52, away from the panel. It also will therefore be seen that no stress tending to bend the projections 33, 34 can be put upon these projections by either a pull or a push on the knob 63. It will be noted that the projections 42, 43 are relatively short and project only a small distance beyond the rivets 31, 38, so that a stiff construction is provided.

It will be evident that rigidity of the mounting in an axial direction as hereinbefore described is desirable also in the instance where the mounted device has an actuator of the rotary type since the actuator or device may be subject to accidentally, incidentally or intentionally applied forces tending to move the parts in an axial direction.

In view of the foregoing it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that my invention may be embodied in other constructions wherein the quick connectable and disconnectable means and its relation to the associated parts may assume a variety of forms, variously changed and modified within the spirit of the invention. 7

In general it will be clear to those skilled in the art that the features of my invention need not all be used in one embodiment, and may beindividually or collectively variously changed. and modified, without departing from the spirit of the invention, or sacrificing all of the advantages thereof, and accordingly that the disclosure herein is illustrative only, and that my invention is not limited thereto.

I claim:

1. Means for mounting a device upon a panel, comprising: coacting means, in part carried by the panel and in part carried by the device, the parts being constructed and arranged to be brought into axial abutment; and holding means, for holding said parts against axial separation, constructed and arranged to positively prevent any substantial axial separation of said parts and also, to resiliently hold the parts abutted, to prevent rattling.

2. Means for mounting a device upon a panel, comprising: coacting means, in part carried by the panel and in part carried by the device, the parts being constructed and arranged to be brought into axial abutment; and holding means, for holding said parts against axial separation, including a plurality of bayonet connections, the pins of said connections being carried by an annular leaf spring substantially concentric with the annulus defined by said connections.

3. Means for mounting a device upon a panel, comprising: coacting means, in part carried by the panel and in part carried by the device, the parts being constructed and arranged to be brought into axial abutment; and holding means, for holding said parts against axial separation, including a plurality of bayonet connections, one of said bayonet connections being constructed and arranged to latch against disassembling rotation, to hold the device assembled with the panel, and the other bayonet connections being incapable of latching against such rotation, whereby the device may be unlatched and disassembled by the use of only one hand.

4. Means for mounting a device on a panel, comprising: coacting means, in part carried by the panel and in part carried by the device, the parts being constructed and arranged to be brought into axial abutment; and holding means, for holding the parts against axial separation, including two pair of bayonet connections, one pair constructed and arranged to positively prevent any substantial axial separation, and the other pair constructed and arranged to resiliently hold the parts abutted, to prevent rattling.

5. Means for mounting a device on a panel, comprising: coacting means, in part carried by the panel and in part carried by the device, the parts being constructed and arranged to be brought into axial abutment; and holding means, for holding the parts against axial separation, including two pair of bayonet connections, one

pair constructed and arranged to positively prevent any substantial axial separation, and the other pair constructed and arranged to resiliently hold the parts abutted, to prevent rattling, the pins of all of said connections being carried by an annular leaf spring substantially concentric with the annulus defined by said connections.

6. Means for mounting a device on a panel, comprising: coacting means, in part carried by the panel and in part carried by the device, the parts being constructed and arranged to be brought into axial abutment; and holding means, for holding the parts against axial separation, including two pair of bayonet connections, one pair constructed and arranged to positively prevent any substantial axial separation, and the other pair constructed and arranged to resiliently hold the parts abutted, to prevent rattling, one of the connections of said other pair being constructed and arranged to latch against disassembling rotation, to hold the device assembled with the panel, and the others of said bayonet connections being incapable of latching against such rotation, whereby the device may be unlatched and disassembled by the use of only one hand.

HARRY A. DOUGLAS. 

